Jamaican rum


Sign up or Log In to change notification settings.
Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Posted 26 Jan '23

so far I only had 2 rums from Jamaica

Appleton 12 years old and worthy park single cask ..now I injoyed both but thought worthy park was a bit bland ..and Appleton just didn't wow me I enjoyed it but I didn't understand what all fuss was about .. because people say it's best u can buy in that price range and it's unbeatable..but honestly I thought it was overrated..I think mount gay xo is better but obviously it's my opinion.so a guy told me I should give up on Jamaican rum 

but I want to try Hampden..so my question is ..is it worth me trying new Jamaican rum maybe i should revisit Appleton 12 since it  was years ago I had it 

 

Rene Rum avatar image
Rene Rum (PREMIUM) 🇨🇭 | 547 ratings Replied 26 Jan '23

Les 80,

If you like the "funk" in Jamaican rums, explore this style further. I love Jamaican rum, my rum love started with an Appleton V/X. 

Mount Gay XO is still the mother of all rums, pure rum flavor!  

Almost half the world offers excellent rums, you just have to discover them ;-)

Stefan Persson avatar image
Stefan Persson (PREMIUM) 🇸🇪 | 507 ratings Replied 26 Jan '23

Les,

Try a Smith & Cross which is a rather cheap funky, without being extreme, Jamaican.

if you like it, you should go on with more extreme funky rum.

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 26 Jan '23

KE
Kevin 🇺🇸 | 78 ratings Replied 26 Jan '23

There's just too much rum out there to signal out Jamacia. I say get on board and enjoy the sail!

WA
wayoutwest 🇬🇧 | 101 ratings Replied 27 Jan '23

I agree with you about Worthy Park and Appleton. 

Hampden offers far more complexity, and the funk is pretty restrained. 

If you can find a bottle, Plantation Clarendon 15 year is great value, and offers again mild funk with richness and a nice rounded flavour. 

If you really want to amp up the funk, I agree with the others above and would suggedt Smith & Cross. It's pretty challenging neat, but really brings out the full on Jamaican experience. 

Jagsroy avatar image
Jagsroy (PREMIUM) 🇨🇦 | 288 ratings Replied 28 Jan '23

Les, Initially I disliked Appleton 12 yr. Revisited it 1 year later and got used to it. Have since tried various Jamaican rums, Hampden has yet not to Wow me. Don't hesitate to try Hampden rums, you will thoroughly enjoy it IMO.

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 28 Jan '23

I  have add Hampden to my list but am going to get Smith and cross next think at the time I stated on doorlys xo and liked it then when mount gay xo and loved it then had Appleton 12 

but definitely going to try Hampden this year some time 

DB avatar image
DB 🇺🇸 | 69 ratings Replied 30 Jan '23

Smith & Cross is fantastic! I'd also recommend trying the Worthy Park 109. Plenty of flavor, not overly funky. I think it is a great sipper, but works really nicely in Tiki calling for a dark Jamaican, at least the ones I've tried anyway. Hampden Estate for sure. I do like the Appleton Estate as well. Never judge on your first tasting/experience. I've had a lot of stuff that did not appeal on 1st try, but I always give a bottle several chances. And you don't need to go back to one right away. Do others in between whatever you're trying, go back in a month or two.

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 31 Jan '23

ok thanks for the info dB definitely buying Smith a cross next and I will revisit Appleton has it was very early in my rum journey 

Alas avatar image
Alas 🇵🇷 | 499 ratings Replied 11 Feb '23

Les 80, checked out your cabinet and what you've rated highly, but based on your top rums you're probably going to be blown away by some of the lower abv foursquares (not Jamaican but saw it missing in your ratings and would bet you'd score it highly).  Also noticed st. Lucia rums rated highly for you I love st lucia rums and see chairmans reserve forgotten cask missing for you.  Finally Jamaican rum I like the Hampden Estate The Younger LROK 5-Year has this hint of banana that makes it unique, love worthy park if it was too bland try the one aged in port barrels, and for appleton the best one I've tried (for the price because I was lucky to taste the 50year on someone else's dime) is Appleton Joy.  happy sipping

vomi1011 avatar image
vomi1011 🇩🇪 | 403 ratings Replied 13 Feb '23

Jamaica has a whole corner of typical flavor profiles that are produced only in Jamaica. To be able to say something about Jamaica, one must know at least the most important distilleries and their marks.Of course, the rum is worth trying.

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 13 Feb '23

younger lock on my list same with Hampden 8 years old the reason I not had the forgotten cask yet 

is I read the fat man pirate review and he said worth just spending a bit more money on there other line ups so I been in no rush to try ..as for foursquare I really enjoyed the rums I had by them so far.. sixty six on my list  doorlys 12 and 14  I just found a Jamaican rum by an independent bottler only 20 odd so going try that next since it's cheap 

MU
Mutiny17 🇺🇸 | 5 ratings Replied 13 Feb '23

Has anyone ever had or seen C.J. Wray Dry Rum? I came across a unopened bottle last month. I tried to do some research on it and seems it was discontinued in late 2000's.

KI
Kieron wood 🇬🇧 | 621 ratings Replied 17 Feb '23

For Jamaica  entry perfect flight is the ovevproof  flight of rum 

Wray and nephew (liked with Appleton estates )

Rum bar ovenproof (worthy park)

Rum fire (Hampden)

 

The reason I say start with this flight as all 3 are very different  variations of Jamaican rum and can then guide which flavours you want to accompany the funk ..

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 17 Feb '23

Jimmy Cliff avatar image
Jimmy Cliff (PREMIUM) 🇺🇸 | 495 ratings Replied 18 Feb '23

I know its in an upscale price range but if you have a special occasion Appleton 21 is a superb rum. I likely rated it a 9. Then things like 30 & Joy are the next level but come at a price. The Appleton 15 Black RiverCask is a notch above 12, not sure if its worth the extra $10-$15 bottle. I find most Jamaican rums a bit too much funky for me.          

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 18 Feb '23

been looking at the 15  got a few Jamaican rums on my list once I had a few more I will know if Jamaican a style I like.... my favourite rums so far are st Lucia I never had a bad rum yet from st lucia to-date 

ST
stonytokes 🇺🇸 | 25 ratings Replied 24 Feb '23

I would second the Smith and Cross which really brings the funk IMO, and recommend trying the Appleton 12 again as it's been reformulated within the past year or so from the Rare Blend to the Rare Cask edition (as I understand it) with many reviewers on this site preferring it to the previous formulation. 

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 28 Feb '23

Les 80 avatar image
Les 80 🇬🇧 | 70 ratings Author Replied 3 Mar '23